Allergy Consumer Review Issue #54

Allergy Consumer Review Issue #54

Added by: Editor

Dear Everyone,

Achoo! Achoo! It is the Fall and I am sneezing my head off. By the time I get up to sneeze #15, I am exhausted! For those of you with Fall allergies, you will still have to keep your windows closed until after the first frost, wash your hair frequently and keep those air cleaners cranking!

My sinuses are starting to hurt in the mornings, so it’s time to do a clean up and keep the air squeaky clean indoors. We have been hard at work this summer researching new products, most of which did not make the cut with our product research team, but we do have a few exciting new announcements for later this Fall. So stay tuned. The cooler weather will be with us soon in New England. In the meantime, I am squeezing in the last of my late summer golf games. And for those of you who play golf, do shower after a golf game. The chemicals you will pick up on your skin after playing golf are pretty toxic.

As a retailer I can feel the start of the “silly season” is almost upon us. When Richard, one of our staff members, told me that he had been asked by a customer on whether we carried an allergy free pink leopard skin comforter, I thought to myself, “here we go again”!

In This Issue

Mercia Tapping
President / CEO AllergyBuyersClub.com
Contact Information

Disclaimer: Product and solution information reflect information available at the time of publication, including prices, availability, and reviews. To get the latest information, contact us or join our newsletter.

Mattress Pads And Mattress Toppers Explained

by Mercia Tapping

Mattress pads have become increasingly popular in recent years and for good reason. They can increase our sleep quality as well as comfort level. However the terms, mattress topper, mattress pad and mattress protector are often used interchangeably and can cause confusion to the prospective buyer.

1. What is the difference between a mattress topper and mattress pad?

The terms mattress pad and mattress topper are often used interchangeably. A mattress topper solely refers to something that is supposed to enhance the comfort level of the mattress by placing an extra softer layer or pad on top of existing, and probably all too hard mattresses. A mattress pad however can refer both to a mattress topper but also to a thinner kind of pad, most often made out of cotton, which is there to protect your mattress for hygienic reasons. These mattress pads for hygienic protection are also often termed as mattress protectors, which further confuses the consumer!

2. What kinds of mattress toppers exist?

The most popular mattress toppers seem to be made out of either memory foam, synthetic or natural latex. We recommend natural latex, which while being more expensive than the other two materials, has the benefit of being dust mite and mold spore unfriendly, as well as being superbly comfortable. We love the feel of memory foam but dislike its odor. It also tends to harden at temperatures below 65º and takes a time to spring back into shape.

3. What are the benefits of a good mattress topper?

A good mattress topper (a.k.a. mattress pad) can really enhance the quality of your sleep. Those of us at 50 plus years who bought extra firm mattresses not too long ago, appreciate that the extra layer of “squishiness”, does in fact alleviate aching joints in the morning, and feels delightfully luxurious. By adding a touch of luxury to an existing mattress, you can sometimes prolong its useful life by adding the topper or pad. Be clear that adding a mattress pad cannot save a mattress which has already served it useful life as the lack of underlying support still resides in the mattress and box-springs.

4. Explain the difference between the choices of various kinds of mattress pads or toppers.

a. Cotton. Pure cotton mattress covers or pads are very thin, quilted and easily washable. These are most often known as mattress protectors and extend the life of a mattress, protecting it from bodily fluids. They will have an elastic edging, which neatly fits around your upper side of your mattress. Cotton is naturally hypoallergenic and allows you to “breathe”.

b. Lambs wool. Lambs wool mattress pads are like sleeping with a very soft sheepskin rug under your sheet. At first glance, that does not sound very appealing but rest assured, a lambs wool mattress pad is pure self indulgent luxury, adding softness to your mattress. As a wool product it has all the advantages of wool. These kinds of mattress pads do not offer support to the back, and tend to matt down over time. Cheaper ones are thinner, and coarser and will matt down more quickly than a thicker and plusher. Lambs wool pads will spring back to life quickly with a vapor steam cleaner and can also be washed, but will tend to shed in the process, so we prefer the steam cleaning method.

Our top of the line lambswool mattress pads are Vista Wool with our Imperial and Elite mattress pads a cost effective alternative.

c. Latex comes from the rubber tree and is a very durable and cushion like material which also has the advantage of providing a cushion for aching joints and back. Latex can either be synthetic or natural. The blended synthetic kind can last longer, but the natural kind is very long lasting [up to 20 years]. Latex is naturally hypoallergenic and does not harbor dust mites and mold. Mattress pads made out of latex are extraordinarily comfortable providing both comfort and support. The only disadvantage to a latex mattress pad of any quality is that it will cost as much as some cheaper mattresses, which might make you question their value. A night on a latex mattress pad would change your mind in a heartbeat. A great latex mattress pad is the Euphoria.

d. Wool/Alpaca. Alpaca is a kind of very soft wool from the coat of the llama. It is softer and lighter even than cashmere, so a mattress pad made out Alpaca is very soft. In fact, a 100% alpaca mattress pad would be too soft, as the pad would compress too fast under the weight of the human body. So Alpaca mattress pads are mixed with wool for durability. Wool mattress pads have an advantage, since they are naturally dust mite and mold resistant. This is because wool absorbs moisture from the body, making it comfortable for you. However wool dries out quickly, so that it is inhospitable to allergens, which prefer a moist environment. Wool is also a perfect insulator, as the air pockets in wool fibers act as an insulating vacuum. So strangely enough, a wool mattress pad will keep you cooler in summer and warmer in winter. The only disadvantage is that wool mattress pads, which are quilted and covered in cotton, can feel on the hard side compared with some of the other materials reviewed. The plus is their durability. See our mattress pad comparison chart for excellent alpaca or wool mattress pads.

e. Latex Core with Wool and Cotton covering. Just simply the best of all worlds but these tend to be on the expensive side and like a “mini- mattress”. The Royal-Pedic Mattress pads weigh about 70lbs and are either 3.5 or 5 inches thick but are the perfect blend of both support and comfort.

f. Memory Foam. Mattress toppers constructed out of foam tend to be lightweight but are not breathable so some people complain that they sweat at night. Not good for those people who run “hot”. Nowadays they are very inexpensive and run from the open foam “egg-crate” type to those encased in other fabrics to try and disguise the out-gassing of the odor from the memory foam. The odor from even an expensive memory foam mattress pads in the $500-$700 range overpowered a number of our staff who complained it smelled like “skunk cabbage”. The other disadvantage of memory foam is after a while it does not spring back into place and has permanent indentations from the body. Therefore we do not recommend this kind of mattress pad.

g. Down or Feather. Feathers are actually a better filling than down for mattress toppers because they are more resilient but they have a habit of clumping and needing a good regular shake out. There are also many of us who are allergic to feathers. A down mattress topper sounds very luxurious, but if your down pillow tends to break down and flatten from the weight of your head, just think about how long it would take for your body weight to crush the fragile down plumes. For that reason, we do not recommend down as the filler for a mattress pad or topper. For a cheap mattress pad, simply recycle your old comforter and put it below your sheet.

h. Synthetic Down. The same reservations we have about down filled mattress pads, we have about its synthetic cousin. It mattes down very quickly so the useful life of this kind of mattress pad is very limited. For that reason we do not recommend them since most people will be very disappointed

Here is the selection of recommended mattress pads and toppers to be found at AllergyBuyersClub.com.

Here is our comparison chart for mattress pads.

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Down Comforters – Revisited
How to choose the best down comforter

by Mercia Tapping

Down Comforters are not created equal, although they might appear that way to the uneducated consumer. There are several important variables to consider when choosing a down comforter.

A Comforters Fill Power
In layman’s terms this means how fluffy-puffy is the fill. Higher fill power means your down comforter will last longer.
Fill Power =The space one ounce of down occupies in cubic inches.
800+ = superb quality comforters
700+ = excellent quality comforters
600+ = good quality comforters

How are Comforters Fill Power tested? American Standard Testing. One ounce of down is placed in a cylinder and stirred.The loft is measured in cubic inches. The sample is compressed. The down is left alone to “rest” for 24 hours. After the resting period, the down is re-measured. The down remains undisturbed and should regain its original loft within 72 hours.

Comforters-Thread Count-Barrier Weave fabric
The comforters thread count is the number of threads that are contained in one square inch of fabric. Higher thread counts in a comforter’s fabric mean it is lighter and softer. The tightness of the weave also prevents leakage of the comforters fill to the outside air. The lightness also helps the fill to ” loft”- or “puff up” in layman’s terms. The Comforters Downproofness is measure in millimeters.

Lower numbers mean better down proofing. The industry standard in ‘10′. An air porosity test (how much air can pass through a fabric) is a measure of “downproofness”. Higher thread counts are obviously better. In other words – no little feathers poking through the comforters fabric.

Comforters Cleanliness
There are acceptable government standards for the cleanliness of feathers and down used in down comforters. This cleanliness is a primary variable in determining the hypoallergenic nature of some down comforters. Some comforter fills are washed as many as fifteen times to get rid of dust, dirt and organic matter.

There are two “cleanliness” tests in the industry.
(a). A Oxygen test determines the amount of organic matter left in the material being tested. The industry acceptable standard is 10. Better products have lower numbers than that.
(b). Turbidity tests. Turbidity is a measure of suspended solids, dust, dirt etc suspended in the comforters material. The scale goes from about 60 (unwashed feathers) to 550 best.

Comforters Construction, 3D Baffle Design
Comforters Sewing Quality. Better sewing means more durability, less tendency for sewing to break. Comforters are generally sewn through or baffled. The baffling is an internal fabric wall which allows the fill to “loft” more. It also adds strength to the comforter. Comforters which are sewn through are generally better for lighter weight comforters only. Our comforters come in different patterned baffles. (Cloud, Hexagon and Box comforter designs).

Comforters Piping
A comforter can be made with material sewn around the edges. The piping is the type of material that runs around the entire exterior edge of the down comforter.

Comforters Weight
A comforter can be made warmer in two ways. Fill power and weight. Clearly the aim is to get the maximum warmth at the lightest weight. To get this you would choose a higher fill power number. Feathers are a great deal less warm than high grade down. Once you have selected the fill power then add weight for extra warmth.

Average bedroom temperature and comforter weight recommended:
Summer comforter weight 70+ ° F

Light Weight
(Southern)
Autumn comforter weight 55-70° F

Medium weight
(Classic)
Winter comforter weight Below 55° F

Winter weight
(Arctic)

Type of Down for Comforters
These comforters are in order of quality. Please note that in some comforters labeled “pure down” or 100% down are not pure, as some feathers remain in the fill. As long as the comforter is 75% down it can be labeled 100% in many states!

    • Duck feather (Worst)
    • Duck feather and Down Goose feather and Down Goose down Hungarian Down Siberian Down (Best)
down for comforters-silk comforters
Siberian Goose Down
considered the finest Goose Down available for comforters. Collected from Geese that live in very cold climates, it is the heaviest of all the downs, used in 800 fill, and will last the longest.
Hungarian Down
the next step down from the Siberian Goose Down, this is also cold Climate down, the a fill power of 650+ Comforters.
White Goose Down
is a by-product from Geese used for food. Smaller more condensed down 550+ Fill Power Comforters.
Feathers have quills. There fore are manly used as fillers in large comforters, or pillows. Can poke out of comforters and be sharp to your skin.

Comforters Down (Goose and Duck)
A comforter’s down is harvested during the natural Molting process from farm raised geese. Goose down is also the by-product of the worldwide poultry industry. The biggest difference between goose and duck down is odor. Goose down has little to no odor. If it does not say goose down on the label, It is most likely duck down and a lot less expensive.

Down vs. Feathers in Comforters
Down is used for insulation and loft in duvets and pillows and feathers are used for bulk and durability for featherbeds and some pillows. Sometimes these are mixed to create a firm, durable product. The more down in the mix, the fluffier and more expensive the comforter or pillow is.

Syriaca- hypodown comfortersSyriaca Clusters are hypoallergenic and stabilize the components in a comforters down that cause allergic reactions. Syriaca floss is a natural hollow fiber that is hypo-allergenic by itself. When syriaca floss and goose down are combined, the floss traps and suppresses the dust and dander to which some people have allergic reactions to. These clusters actually enhance the natural properties of down are a fantastic fill for comforters and pillows. Syriaca clusters are cleaned and separated from the pods through mechanical action and air. No chemicals are used. It takes 800 pods to make one pound of Syriaca clusters.

What is Hypodown?
Hypodown is a natural hypoallergenic combination of white goose down and Syriaca used in comforters and pillows. Asclepias Syriaca, or Syriaca, is also known as milkweed. Syriaca grows abundantly in the United States and is now cultivated on Nebraska farms. The fall harvest reaps soft and silky clusters from the plants pod. The Hypodown naturally traps and suppresses the dust and dander that people with allergies react to in traditional down products. This combination makes Hypodown the only natural, hypoallergenic down product in the bedding industry. Hypodown is warmer, more breathable, and more durable than down alone. With a Hypodown comforter, the moisture is transferred away from your body and released into the air 30% quicker than traditional down and about 70% quicker than synthetic filled comforters and blankets. Hypodown is four times warmer than most synthetic comforters and up to eleven times as durable.

Hypodown is Hypoallergenic
Goose down can cause allergic reactions in some people. It is not the down that does this, however, but rather it is the dust particles remaining on the down after washing and processing. Our duvets and pillows are guaranteed by the manufacturer to be hypoallergenic. This is accomplished by combining syriaca clusters (commonly known as milkweed) with the down. The syriaca clusters enhance the natural properties of the down as well as stabilize the components that cause people to suffer down comforter allergies.

Note: Hypodown has been tested in the offices of Allergy and Asthma Doctors in the United States and Europe. These tests prove that most people who are allergic to down can use Hypodown without reactions
hypodown down comforters-silk comforters
Hypodown used in Comforters

Hypo-Allergenic Comforters Overview
We searched to find the best hypo-allergenic comforters for our customers. We feature Hypodown natural goose down, Hyperclean comforters, Primaloft synthetic down and comforters, and Alpaca Wool comforters.

Hypodown Goose Down Comforters
A comforter filled with goose down can be an wonderful on a cold winter night. It can also be a irritant to consumers who are allergic to dust and dander. An environmentally benign and health-sensitive alternative now exists in Hypodown pillows and comforters, made from a combination of traditional goose down and natural downy syriaca clusters from the milkweed plant grown in Nebraska. Hypodown is warmer, more durable and more breathable than down alone.

Hypodown comes in different fill powers which is the technical term for the space one ounce of down occupies in cubic inches. Higher fill power also gives you more warmth with a lighter weight comforter. These down comforters are sold in two fill powers: 700 fill and 800 fill. 80% Pure Hungarian Goose Down and 20% Syriaca Clusters. The 80% of down in the 800 fill comforter contains 95% large plumule down clusters and only 5% of down plumule pieces. The 80% down in the 700 fill comforter contains 85% large plumule down clusters and 15% of down plumule pieces.

The down and syriaca in these comforters is the cleanest, least treated fibers we could find anywhere. The down is de-dusted and gently washed up to 8 times in an environmentally friendly cleansing solution and rinsed three times. This cleaning process and renders it pH neutral. This is the most hypoallergenic down comforters we could find – due to the quality of materials used, cleaning process and the addition of the addition of the natural syriaca clusters.

We carry four different Hypodown Down Comforter Styles:
Empress Comforters - The cover is made of long staple Egyptian cotton. These beautiful hypo-allergenic European goose down comforters have a thread count of 350, and has a “Cloud” baffle design. Comforter guaranteed to be hypoallergenic for 10 years. The very best of the best!
Pearl Crescent Comforters -The outer ticking is made of long staple Egyptian cotton sateen, with a hexagon baffled edging and satin piping. These beautiful hypo-allergenic European goose down comforters have a thread count of 330. Comforter guaranteed to be hypoallergenic for 10 years.
Harvester Down Comforters -The cover is made of unbleached, undyed, chemical free cotton. These beautiful hypo-allergenic European goose down comforters have a thread count of 312. Comforter comes packaged in an environmentally friendly cloth bag. Box baffle design. Comforter guaranteed to be hypoallergenic for 10 years. Monarch Comforters – The cover is made of long staple Egyptian cotton. These beautiful hypo-allergenic European goose down comforters have a thread count of 300. Box baffle design. Comforter guaranteed to be hypoallergenic for 10 years.
Primaloft Synthetic Down Comforters The Primaloft comforter is made from ultra-fine microscopic fibers. And just like down, primaloft clusters are blown into pillows and comforters. This results in a down-like appearance and lightweight warmth. Primaloft’s micro-fibers are softer and finer than silk, creating a feeling matched only by down. This is why Primaloft is the only patented alternative to a down comforter.

Hyperclean Goose Down Comforters
Hyperclean is the patented thorough gentle down cleaning process used to make the goose down pH neutral. This process also makes this down fluffier and and longer lasting than some of its other down products. As a result this comforter is able to use less down to achieve it’s comfort and warmth. It also makes it great for those who thought they were allergic to down. This goose down comforter is comes with a 30 day comfort guarantee and a 30 day hypoallergenic warranty. Also see our Hyperclean Blanket

Alpaca Wool Comforters
Alpaca wool duvets or comforters use 100% natural, organically grown wool from llamas that absorb up to 35% of it’s weight in moisture – keeping you dry and comfortable in one of the warmest natural fibers available. Synthetic materials used on typical bedding does not breathe and can emit toxic fumes as they age – affecting sleep and breathing. Naturally fire retardant.

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Choosing a Canister Vacuum Cleaner

by Bob Cobe, AllergyBuyersClub.com Product Specialist

The first question for most consumers choosing a vacuum is whether to buy a canister or upright vacuum cleaner. Assuming you have decided that canister vacuum cleaners are for you, how do you choose between them?

The major criterion in choosing a canister vacuum cleaner is what floor surfaces you wish to clean versus the power of the vacuum.

Canister vacuum cleaners offer 3 choices of tools for floor surfaces.

1. A bare floor hard plastic brush about 10”-12” wide with soft bristles
2. A turbo brush that has a spinning drum roller with bristles
3. A power head brush that is similar to the turbo brush but is powered by a separate motor.

The turbo brush and the power head brush vacuum cleaners both have a spinning drum roller with bristles similar to that of an upright vacuum cleaner. While both brushes look and perform similarly, the power head brush vacuum cleaner has a small separate motor to turn the brush on the bottom of it, thus making it more powerful and aggressive than the turbo brush kind that is turned by the flow of air being pulled past it. These brushes snap the carpet fibers to allow air to get beneath the particles of dirt. If you can’t get air under these particles, you can’t suck them out regardless of how much suction power you apply with a vacuum cleaner.

When you purchase either turbo or power head vacuum cleaners to be used on carpet surfaces, you also receive a bare floor brush for non-carpeted areas.

Miele Aquarius S5580 CapriceThe usual rule of thumb as to which model of vacuum cleaner to purchase is:

Some other important features for your canister vacuum cleaner choice would be: reliability, purchase price, hepa filter and sealed unit, cost of replacement bags and filters, weight, on board storage and quality of tools, location of controls, noise, adjustable wand, retractable cord, ease of changing attachments, bag change indicator, filter change indicator, swivel hose, and extra features such as dirt alerts.

Most canister vacuum cleaners are similar in size, have similar cleaning radiuses, and come with the same 3 tool attachments: a crevice tool, an upholstery tool, and a dusting tool.

Useful articles and charts are AllergyBuyersClub.com’s:

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Dewpoint Defined

by Bob Cobe, AllergyBuyersClub.com

I have finally come up with an intelligent definition of “dewpoint” and thought this might benefit everyone.

Dewpoint is the temperature at which air holds all the water vapor it can possibly contain. If the temperature drops below dewpoint, the air must “give up” water vapor in the form of condensation.

Refrigerant dehumidifiers operate on the principle of dewpoint.

Moisture-laden air passes over cold evaporator coils. The cold coils lower the temperature of the air below its dewpoint. Moisture condenses on the coils and drains into the pan to be pumped out.

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Sinusitis Explained

What is sinusitis? You’re coughing and sneezing and tired and achy. You think that you might be getting a cold. Later, when the medicines you’ve been taking to relieve the symptoms of the common cold are not working and you’ve now got a terrible headache, you finally drag yourself to the doctor. After listening to your history of symptoms, examining your face and forehead, and perhaps doing a sinus X-ray, the doctor says you have sinusitis.

Sinusitis simply means your sinuses are infected or inflamed, but this gives little indication of the misery and pain this condition can cause. Health care experts usually divide sinusitis cases into

    Acute, which lasts for 3 weeks or less Chronic, which usually lasts for 3 to 8 weeks but can continue for months or even years Recurrent, which is several acute attacks within a year

Health care experts estimate that 37 million Americans are affected by sinusitis every year. Health care workers report 33 million cases of chronic sinusitis to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention annually. Americans spend millions of dollars each year for medications that promise relief from their sinus symptoms.

What are sinuses?
Sinuses are hollow air spaces in the human body. When people say, “I’m having a sinus attack,” they usually are referring to symptoms in one or more of four pairs of cavities, or sinuses, known as paranasal sinuses. These cavities, located within the skull or bones of the head surrounding the nose, include the:

    Frontal sinuses over the eyes in the brow area Maxillary sinuses inside each cheekbone Ethmoid sinuses just behind the bridge of the nose and between the eyes Sphenoid sinuses behind the ethmoids in the upper region of the nose and behind the eyes

Each sinus has an opening into the nose for the free exchange of air and mucus, and each is joined with the nasal passages by a continuous mucous membrane lining. Therefore, anything that causes a swelling in the nose-an infection, an allergic reaction, or an immune reaction-also can affect the sinuses. Air trapped within a blocked sinus, along with pus or other secretions, may cause pressure on the sinus wall. The result is the sometimes intense pain of a sinus attack. Similarly, when air is prevented from entering a paranasal sinus by a swollen membrane at the opening, a vacuum can be created that also causes pain.

What are the symptoms of sinusitis?
The location of your sinus pain depends on which sinus is affected.

    Headache when you wake up in the morning is typical of a sinus problem. Pain when your forehead over the frontal sinuses is touched may indicate that your frontal sinuses are inflammed. Infection in the maxillary sinuses can cause your upper jaw and teeth to ache and your cheeks to become tender to the touch. Since the ethmoid sinuses are near the tear ducts in the corner of the eyes, inflammation of these cavities often causes swelling of the eyelids and tissues around your eyes, and pain between your eyes. Ethmoid inflammation also can cause tenderness when the sides of your nose are touched, a loss of smell, and a stuffy nose. Although the sphenoid sinuses are less frequently affected, infection in this area can cause earaches, neck pain, and deep aching at the top of your head.

Most people with sinusitis, however, have pain or tenderness in several locations, and their symptoms usually do not clearly indicate which sinuses are inflamed.

Other symptoms of sinusitis can include:

    Fever Weakness Tiredness A cough that may be more severe at night Runny nose (rhinitis) or nasal congestion

In addition, the drainage of mucus from the sphenoids or other sinuses down the back of your throat (postnasal drip) can cause you to have a sore throat. Mucus drainage also can irritate the membranes lining your larynx (upper windpipe). Not everyone with these symptoms, however, has sinusitis.

On rare occasions, acute sinusitis can result in brain infection and other serious complications.

What are some causes of acute sinusitis?
Most cases of acute sinusitis start with a common cold, which is caused by a virus. These viral colds do not cause symptoms of sinusitis, but they do inflame the sinuses. Both the cold and the sinus inflammation usually go away without treatment in 2 weeks. The inflammation, however, might explain why having a cold increases your likelihood of developing acute sinusitis. For example, your nose reacts to an invasion by viruses that cause infections such as the common cold or flu by producing mucus and sending white blood cells to the lining of the nose, which congest and swell the nasal passages.

When this swelling involves the adjacent mucous membranes of your sinuses, air and mucus are trapped behind the narrowed openings of the sinuses. When your sinus openings become too narrow, mucus cannot drain properly. This increase in mucus sets up prime conditions for bacteria to multiply.

Most healthy people harbor bacteria, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae, in their upper respiratory tracts with no problems until the body’s defenses are weakened or drainage from the sinuses is blocked by a cold or other viral infection. Thus, bacteria that may have been living harmlessly in your nose or throat can multiply and invade your sinuses, causing an acute sinus infection.

Sometimes, fungal infections can cause acute sinusitis. Although fungi are abundant in the environment, they usually are harmless to healthy people, indicating that the human body has a natural resistance to them. Fungi, such as Aspergillus, can cause serious illness in people whose immune systems are not functioning properly. Some people with fungal sinusitis have an allergic-type reaction to the fungi.

Chronic inflammation of the nasal passages also can lead to sinusitis. If you have allergic rhinitis or hay fever, you can develop episodes of acute sinusitis. Vasomotor rhinitis, caused by humidity, cold air, alcohol, perfumes, and other environmental conditions, also may be complicated by sinus infections.

Acute sinusitis is much more common in some people than in the general population. For example, sinusitis occurs more often in people who have reduced immune function (such as those with immune deficiency diseases or HIV infection) and with abnormality of mucus secretion or mucus movement (such as those with cystic fibrosis).

What causes chronic sinusitis?
If you have asthma, an allergic disease, you may have frequent episodes of chronic sinusitis.

If you are allergic to airborne allergens, such as dust, mold, and pollen, which trigger allergic rhinitis, you may develop chronic sinusitis. In addition, people who are allergic to fungi can develop a condition called “allergic fungal sinusitis.”

If you are subject to getting chronic sinusitis, damp weather, especially in northern temperate climates, or pollutants in the air and in buildings also can affect you.

Like acute sinusitis, you might develop chronic sinusitis if you have an immune deficiency disease or an abnormality in the way mucus moves through and from your respiratory system (e.g., immune deficiency, HIV infection, and cystic fibrosis). In addition, if you have severe asthma, nasal polyps (small growths in the nose), or a severe asthmatic response to aspirin and aspirin-like medicines such as ibuprofen, you might have chronic sinusitis often.

How is sinusitis diagnosed?
Because your nose can get stuffy when you have a condition like the common cold, you may confuse simple nasal congestion with sinusitis. A cold, however, usually lasts about 7 to 14 days and disappears without treatment. Acute sinusitis often lasts longer and typically causes more symptoms than just a cold.

Your doctor can diagnose sinusitis by listening to your symptoms, doing a physical examination, and taking X-rays, and if necessary, an MRI or CT scan (magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography).

How is sinusitis treated?
After diagnosing sinusitis and identifying a possible cause, a doctor can suggest treatments that will reduce your inflammation and relieve your symptoms.

Acute sinusitis

If you have acute sinusitis, your doctor may recommend:

    Decongestants to reduce congestion

  • Antibiotics to control a bacterial infection, if present Pain relievers to reduce any pain

You should, however, use over-the-counter or prescription decongestant nose drops and sprays for only few days. If you use these medicines for longer periods, they can lead to even more congestion and swelling of your nasal passages.

If bacteria cause your sinusitis, antibiotics used along with a nasal or oral decongestant will usually help. Your doctor can prescribe an antibiotic that fights the type of bacteria most commonly associated with sinusitis.

Many cases of acute sinusitis will end without antibiotics. If you have allergic disease along with infectious sinusitis, however, you may need medicine to relieve your allergy symptoms. If you already have asthma then get sinusitis, you may experience worsening of your asthma and should be in close touch with your doctor.

In addition, your doctor may prescribe a steroid nasal spray, along with other treatments, to reduce your sinus congestion, swelling, and inflammation.

Chronic sinusitis

Doctors often find it difficult to treat chronic sinusitis successfully, realizing that symptoms persist even after taking antibiotics for a long period. In general, however, treating chronic sinusitis, such as with antibiotics and decongestants, is similar to treating acute sinusitis.

Some people with severe asthma have dramatic improvement of their symptoms when their chronic sinusitis is treated with antibiotics.

Doctors commonly prescribe steroid nasal sprays to reduce inflammation in chronic sinusitis. Although doctors occasionally prescribe them to treat people with chronic sinusitis over a long period, they don’t fully understand the long-term safety of these medications, especially in children. Therefore, doctors will consider whether the benefits outweigh any risks of using steroid nasal sprays.

If you have severe chronic sinusitis, your doctor may prescribe oral steroids, such as prednisone. Because oral steroids are powerful medicines and can have significant side effects, you should take them only when other medicines have not worked.

Although home remedies cannot cure sinus infection, they might give you some comfort.

    Inhaling steam from a vaporizer or a hot cup of water can soothe inflamed sinus cavities. Saline nasal spray, which you can buy in a drug store, can give relief. Gentle heat applied over the inflamed area is comforting.

When medical treatment fails, surgery may be the only alternative for treating chronic sinusitis. Research studies suggest that the vast majority of people who undergo surgery have fewer symptoms and better quality of life.

In children, problems often are eliminated by removal of adenoids obstructing nasal-sinus passages.

Adults who have had allergic and infectious conditions over the years sometimes develop nasal polyps that interfere with proper drainage. Removal of these polyps and/or repair of a deviated septum to ensure an open airway often provides considerable relief from sinus symptoms.

The most common surgery done today is functional endoscopic sinus surgery, in which the natural openings from the sinuses are enlarged to allow drainage. This type of surgery is less invasive than conventional sinus surgery, and serious complications are rare.

How can I prevent sinusitis?
Although you cannot prevent all sinus disorders-any more than you can avoid all colds or bacterial infections-you can do certain things to reduce the number and severity of the attacks and possibly prevent acute sinusitis from becoming chronic.

    You may get some relief from your symptoms with a humidifier, particularly if room air in your home is heated by a dry forced-air system. Air conditioners help to provide an even temperature. Electrostatic filters attached to heating and air conditioning equipment are helpful in removing allergens from the air.

If you are prone to getting sinus disorders, especially if you have allergies, you should avoid cigarette smoke and other air pollutants. If your allergies inflame your nasal passages, you are more likely to have a strong reaction to all irritants.

If you suspect that your sinus inflammation may be related to dust, mold, pollen, or food-or any of the hundreds of allergens that can trigger an upper respiratory reaction-you should consult your doctor. Your doctor can use various tests to determine whether you have an allergy and its cause. This will help you and your doctor take appropriate steps to reduce or limit your allergy symptoms.

Drinking alcohol also causes nasal and sinus membranes to swell.

If you are prone to sinusitis, it may be uncomfortable for you to swim in pools treated with chlorine, since it irritates the lining of the nose and sinuses.

Divers often get sinus congestion and infection when water is forced into the sinuses from the nasal passages.

You may find that air travel poses a problem if you are suffering from acute or chronic sinusitis. As air pressure in a plane is reduced, pressure can build up in your head blocking your sinuses or eustachian tubes in your ears. Therefore, you might feel discomfort in your sinus or middle ear during the plane’s ascent or descent. Some doctors recommend using decongestant nose drops or inhalers before your flight to avoid this problem.

What research is going on?
Scientific studies have shown a close relationship between having allergic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis. In fact, some studies state that up to 80 percent of adults with chronic sinusitis also had allergic rhinitis. There is also an association between asthma and sinusitis. Some researchers think that as many as 75 percent of people with asthma also get sinusitis. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) conducts and supports research on allergic diseases as well as bacteria and fungus that can cause sinusitis. This research is focused on developing better treatments and ways to prevent these diseases.

Scientists supported by NIAID and other institutions are investigating whether chronic sinusitis has genetic causes. They have found that the alterations in genes which cause cystic fibrosis may also contribute to chronic sinusitis. This research focus will give scientists new insights into the cause of the disease in some people and points to new strategies for diagnosis and treatment.

Another NIAID-supported research study is trying to determine whether fungi may play a role in causing many cases of chronic sinusitis. This research also will help scientists develop better medicines to treat chronic sinusitis.

News releases, fact sheets and other NIAID-related materials are available on the NIAID Web site at http://www.niaid.nih.gov.

Prepared by:
Office of Communications and Public Liaison
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, MD 20892

See our Sinus Center for more information on Sinusitis prevention.

Last Updated May 20, 2003 (alt)

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Question And Answer With David Barnaby

AllergyBuyersClub.com Product Specialist

Question

Subject: Operating temperature for dehumidifiers

You stated that one of your dehumidifiers has an operating temperature range down
to 45 degrees Fahrenheit. What happens if the temp goes down to say 35 degrees?

Thanks,
Carolyn

Answer

Hi Carolyn,

Comfort-Air Humidifier 65 PintYou are probably talking about the Comfort-aire 45- or 65-pint low temperature dehumidifiers. The unit will continue to run but it will not remove any moisture. In addition, if the coils begin to freeze up these units will shut the compressor off but the fan will continue to run. Keep in mind that while the compressor is off to allow the evaporator coils to warm up, there is no dehumidifying occurring. Therefore, you will basically be running a fan in the room.

Some of the less efficient dehumidifiers will allow the evaporator coils to ice up where the unit will continue to run to attempt to remove the moisture from the air. However, what will actually be happening is there will be no dehumidification occurring while the unit will continue to ice up and eventually burn out because the airflow will be cut off.

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